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cnbc.com
Oil prices tumble more than 10% as Iran declares Strait of Hormuz open, easing supply fears
Oil prices tumbled more than 10% after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open amid a ceasefire deal with Lebanon.
cnbc.com
Anthropic's Dario Amodei to meet with White House about Mythos
The meeting comes less than two months after President Donald Trump blacklisted Anthropic.
bbc.com
Oil prices plunge as Iran says Strait of Hormuz 'open' during ceasefire
Brent crude sinks by a tenth after Iran says the key waterway is open for commercial ships for the rest of the ceasefire.
cnbc.com
Iran declares Strait of Hormuz open to shipping but Trump says U.S. blockade still active
The Strait of Hormuz has remained almost completely closed as the U.S. and Iran have disputed the terms of their ceasefire agreement.
theguardian.com
Oil and gas prices fall sharply after Iran says strait of Hormuz is open
Brent crude drops and markets rise amid hopes Donald Trump will succeed in reaching deal with TehranBusiness live – latest updatesOil and gas prices fell sharply on Friday after Iran said the strait of Hormuz is open to commercial shipping, potentially clearing the way for tankers holding millions of barrels of oil and gas to reach the global market.Iran’s foreign minister said vessels would be free to transit the strait of Hormuz for the duration of the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, struck on Thursday. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How to know if you're on an energy price cap tariff
Martin was shocked to learn how many people didn't know if they were on an energy price cap.
bbc.com
What is Claude Mythos and what risks does it pose?
The company's claim the AI tool can outperform humans at some hacking and cyber-security tasks has sparked fears in the financial world.
theguardian.com
More than half of Britons support rejoining EU 10 years on from Brexit vote
Experts say Labour’s ‘halfway house’ approach risks losing support from progressives and ‘red wall’ votersUK politics live – latest updatesSupport for rejoining the EU rather than simply rejoining the single market is growing among British voters, with more than 80% of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green party supporters favouring this option, according to research mapping voter attitudes 10 years after the Brexit referendum.Labour’s “muted” approach to the issue means it risks losing support among progressive voters and in “red wall” constituencies, experts have said as part of research by Best for Britain. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Tanker diplomacy: Trump faces tests from Havana to Hormuz
From Cuba to the Persian Gulf, Trump is expected to face fresh challenges across a new arc of tanker diplomacy.
theguardian.com
Average new UK electric car price is now lower than petrol vehicles
Autotrader says average EV cost is £785 cheaper, in an important milestone in the move away from fossil fuelsBusiness live – latest updatesThe price of new battery electric cars has fallen below petrol cars in the UK for the first time, according to the car sales website Autotrader, in a significant milestone in Britain’s transition away from fossil fuels.The average price of a new electric car listed on the website was £42,620, compared with £43,405 for a new petrol model – making the former £785 cheaper based on advertised prices after discounts. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump says war in Iran is going 'swimmingly' and 'should be ending pretty soon'
President Donald Trump's latest prediction on the end of the war against Iran came hours after Israel announced a ceasefire with Lebanon.
bbc.com
UK petrol and diesel prices fall after weeks of rises
Drivers have seen weeks of increases as the US-Israeli war with Iran pushed up wholesale oil prices.
cnbc.com
Nvidia AI chip rivals attract record funding as competition heats up
A growing crop of startups are set on challenging the chip giant's supremacy.
cnbc.com
U.S. tech companies ramp up government lobbying amid Iran war uncertainty
A White House spokesperson told CNBC the administration had been working with industry leaders to mitigate disruption brought about by the conflict.
theguardian.com
UK’s OnlyFans tops $3bn valuation amid talks to sell stake to US investor
Adult video platform to sell minority stake to increase stability after death of its owner Leonid RadvinskyBusiness live – latest updatesOnlyFans, the UK adult video platform, is in talks to sell a minority stake to a US investor that will value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).The London-based company is in advanced talks to sell a stake of less than 20% to the San Francisco-based investment firm Architect Capital, according to the Financial Times. Sources familiar with the process confirmed the talks to the Guardian. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Employees at first ever Starbucks store seek to unionize amid fight for contract
Store opened in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market joins growing unionization campaign across the coffee chainWorkers at the historic first Starbucks store are seeking to unionize as the coffee retail giant and its union appear stalemated over their first contract.The first Starbucks store opened in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, and the store serves as a tourist site in Seattle. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Richard Desmond loses £1.3bn damages battle over national lottery licence
Media tycoon vows to appeal after dismissal of action against Gambling Commission for awarding Allwyn the franchiseBusiness live – latest updatesThe media tycoon Richard Desmond has vowed to appeal after a resounding defeat in his claim for up to £1.3bn in damages from the Gambling Commission over its decision not to award him the 10-year licence to run the national lottery.Mrs Justice Smith dismissed Desmond’s claim on Friday, in a sometimes scathing written high court judgment that reserved particular criticism for “inexcusable” failings on the part of Desmond’s legal team. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Finance ministers and top bankers raise serious concerns about Mythos AI model
Experts say Mythos potentially has an unprecedented ability to identify and exploit cyber-security weaknesses.
theguardian.com
Finance leaders warn over Mythos as UK banks prepare to use powerful Anthropic AI tool
Release of new Claude model, so far limited to US firms, will expand to British institutions in coming daysBritish banks will be given access in the next week to a powerful AI tool that was deemed too dangerous to be released to the public, as a series of senior finance figures warned over its impact.Anthropic, which has so far limited the release of the new model to a small clutch of primarily US businesses, including Amazon, Apple and Microsoft, said it would expand that to UK financial institutions. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The fake images behind AI insurance scams
An insurer reports a 71% rise in fraudulent claims, driven partly by an increase in faked images.
cnbc.com
Israel's central bank chief pins hopes on peace as economic shock looms
Israel's central bank governor hopes a swift resolution to the wars in Lebanon and Iran can ease a growth shock.
theguardian.com
Why do vets charge more to scan an animal than a private hospital would to scan a human?
With prices at the vets soaring by more than 60% since 2016, tests such as MRI scans for dogs can exceed £3,500Why does my vet charge more than a private hospital for humans? I’ve been quoted £1,500 for an MRI scan for my dog. When I looked at how much it would cost for a person to have the same type of scan privately, it was about £700.As technology improves, the treatments and diagnostics available for pets are getting closer to what is on offer for human patients. While we used to rely on a vet to assess what was going on inside an animal, they can now recommend hi-tech scans to see exactly what’s happening. But progress costs money. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to leave streaming service
Chair’s decision to not seek re-election ‘not as a result of any disagreement’, company says in filingReed Hastings, the Netflix chair, is leaving the streaming service he co-founded almost 30 years ago as the company regains its footing after losing out on a $72bn (£53bn) deal for Warner Bros Discovery.In a 14-page letter to investors released on Thursday, Netflix said Hastings would not stand for re-election at its annual meeting in June and planned to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Asia markets mostly fall as fragile Middle East ceasefire tempers sentiment
Most Asia-Pacific markets traded lower Friday as an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire tempered risk appetite, even after Wall Street closed at fresh record highs.
theguardian.com
Colombia convenes climate ‘coalition of the willing’ to break global fossil fuel deadlock
Santa Marta conference born out of frustration at Cop summits, where renewable progress has been stalled by major pollutersEverybody knows fossil fuels cause climate breakdown, but until recently, mention of them was all but erased from the annual UN climate summits. Last year, two weeks of discussions ended without fossil fuels being mentioned in the final outcome.Frustration with those talks led a small developing country with a large fossil fuel sector – Colombia, the largest coal and fourth biggest oil exporter in the Americas – to rewrite the rules. With co-convener the Netherlands, and support from more than 50 countries, Colombia will host a groundbreaking new global conference this month to begin the long-awaited “transition away from fossil fuels”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Spain touts energy resilience to Iran war as Trump tensions cast shadow over trade
The southern European country has ramped up its investment in solar and wind technologies in recent years.
cnbc.com
Nvidia rival tells CNBC it's seeking at least $100 million in funding as European AI chip market booms
Investor interest for AI chip startups is rising, but big challenges remain for the nascent sector.
bbc.com
Nearly 160,000 uninsured cars seized on UK roads
Seizure numbers hit a 17-year high as an estimated 300,000 uninsured vehicles are driven each day.
theguardian.com
A question for those desperate to cut benefits to fund defence: who exactly are you willing to impoverish? | Polly Toynbee
George Robertson has joined Reform and the Tories in making the case. Look welfare recipients in the face and say thatThe benefits budget is now a magic money tree. Whenever Conservatives or Faragists make wild promises – tax cuts, more police, more punishment, more bonuses for marriage – and are asked how they would pay, the answer is always “welfare”. The sums are enormous. “Only the Conservatives will cut welfare spending by £23bn and get Britain working again,” the party insists.More unexpected was the klaxon from the Labour peer George Robertson this week, demanding a cut in benefits to finance defence. “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget,” said the ex-Nato chief, wanting to pluck this juicy plum to fund defence. Good to see him slapped down sharply by the government: there is no “zero-sum game” between these two budgets, said the chancellor’s deputy, James Murray.Guardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?On Thursday 30 April, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK – and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader. Book tickets here or at guardian.livePolly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Uber raises stake in Delivery Hero in $318 million deal
Prosus has been forced by European regulators to sell down its Delivery Hero stake in order to proceed with a proposed acquisition of Just Eat.
bbc.com
Chinese carmaker patents voice-controlled 'in-vehicle toilet'
Seres' plans show how stiff competition in the EV space is putting pressure on carmakers to innovate.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: A ceasefire, but no Strait talk
A 10-day truce between Isreal and Lebanon takes negotiators another step closer to a broader Middle East peace agreement.
cnbc.com
ECB keeps markets guessing on rates with two weeks to go, warns of ‘layer cake of shocks’
One policymaker said officials were worried about a "layer cake of shocks."
theguardian.com
Homes for sale in England near marathon routes – in pictures
From running through open countryside in historic beauty spots to pounding the streets of London Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Cuts to overseas aid will worsen shocks to global economy, David Miliband says
Exclusive: Former UK foreign secretary says poor and rich countries alike will be hit amid humanitarian crisis sparked by Iran warCuts to overseas aid by countries including the US and the UK risk stoking global economic instability amid the humanitarian crisis resulting from the Iran war, David Miliband has said.The former British foreign secretary and head of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said the US “abandoning” of its aid programme under Donald Trump would worsen shocks to the global economy that would impact poor and wealthy countries alike. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I want to reform our country because a strong Germany is a precondition for a strong Europe | Lars Klingbeil
The war in Iran has exposed our dependencies. Europe, including the UK, must be bold about change, so nobody can blackmail usLars Klingbeil is Germany’s finance minister and vice-chancellorWars and crises are draining our economies, our sense of security and our emotional wellbeing. They are affecting our daily lives: supply chains are becoming less reliable, energy prices are soaring, and trade dependencies on fossil-fuel energy and critical minerals pose risks to national security. Tariffs, industrial overcapacities and export restrictions threaten jobs and prosperity. Taken together, all this is exposing Europe’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities.At the same time, we have shown how strengthening our alliances and our economic and military capacities can increase our scope for action. Forming a united European political front is helping to safeguard the sovereignty of Greenland, for instance. And despite all the recent turmoil, Europe remains one of the most attractive places in the world to live and work. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
35,000 pints of stolen Guinness, 950 wheels of pilfered cheese: can the UK’s cargo theft crisis be stopped? – podcast
It costs the UK economy £700m a year, and criminal gangs are operating with near impunity. Every time a lorry gets robbed, raided or hijacked, it’s Mike Dawber who investigatesBy Stuart McGurk. Read by Nicholas Camm Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Netflix stock sinks after streamer reiterates guidance, says Reed Hastings to exit board
Netflix beat expectations for Q1 revenue and reported a big jump in earnings per share thanks in part to a termination fee related to its proposed WBD deal.
bbc.com
Could a digital twin make you into a 'superworker'?
Firms say digital twins make staff more productive, but are they a potential legal minefield?
bbc.com
Rising value of Pokémon cards sparks smash and grab crime spree
Small shops across the UK are being targeted by thieves stealing collectibles worth thousands of pounds.
theguardian.com
V&A faces calls to become living wage employer on eve of Stratford opening
Campaigners organise open letter to director demanding ‘fair day’s wage’ for all workers at V&A museumsA row over pay has broken out at the V&A before the opening of its newest site , with thousands of people calling for it to become a living wage employer.On Saturday, V&A East will open its doors in Stratford, east London, showcasing stunning fabrics, photos and black British music. It joins a wider group of V&A museums including its original site in South Kensington, Young V&A in Bethnal Green and V&A Dundee. The V&A describes its latest opening as one of the most significant new museum projects in the UK. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to step down as chairman
Hastings set up the company in 1997, when it rented DVDs to customers and delivered by post.
theguardian.com
Newly unsealed records reveal Amazon’s price-fixing tactics, California attorney general claims
Exclusive: A trove of previously redacted documents was filed as part of the tech giant’s anti-trust battle with the state of California. Amazon denies it engages in price-fixingHundreds of previously redacted records reveal how Amazon has put pressure on independent sellers using its platform into raising their prices on the sites of competitors such as Walmart and Target, so that Amazon can appear to have lower prices, California authorities allege.The global conglomerate became concerned even if a competitor was selling an item for as little as a penny less, according to one segment of the newly unredacted evidence. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Senate Democrats move to stall Trump’s ‘absurd’ bid to install new Fed chair
Democratic lawmakers urged Republican leaders to postpone the confirmation hearing of Kevin WarshSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDemocrats have moved to stall Donald Trump’s effort to exert greater control over the US Federal Reserve, condemning the president’s “absurd” bid to install a new leader of the central bank while it is targeted with criminal investigations.Democratic lawmakers on the Senate banking committee urged its Republican leadership on Thursday to postpone the planned confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh, the financial executive and former Fed governor Trump has nominated to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How could the Iran war affect fizzy drinks in the UK?
The BBC's Emma Simpson explains why fizzy drinks, salad and meat could be affected by the Gulf conflict.
cnbc.com
Quantum stocks on pace for a massive week after Nvidia debuts AI models to boost the tech
Hyperscalers Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft have been investing heavily in chips to power quantum computing
bbc.com
Europe has 'maybe six weeks of jet fuel left', energy boss warns
Flights could soon be cancelled if supplies from the Gulf remain blocked, says the International Energy Agency.
cnbc.com
Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, Trump says
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine will work with Israel and Lebanon, Trump said.
bbc.com
Is Trump meeting the moment for US conservatives?
The BBC asked the president's supporters about Iran, the economy and immigration at the largest conservative gathering in the country.
cnbc.com
TSMC and ASML post-earnings stock moves could be a sign of what's to come from chip companies
Two of the biggest chipmakers, TSMC and ASML, failed to catch major tail winds from strong earnings. It could be a bellwether for the chip industry as a whole.
theguardian.com
Next chief Simon Wolfson paid record £7.4m – and could get far more this year
‘Sustained outperformance’ merits pay rise, says company after it ups profit guidance to £1.2bn for year to January 2027The Next chief executive, Simon Wolfson, took home more than £7m last year, his highest ever pay package, and could be handed up to £9.27m this year after the retailer announced plans to increase his basic salary and bonuses.The listed company said it was increasing its pay deal for the long-term leader of the fashion and homewares retailer, which now controls a string of brands in the UK including Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Cath Kidston, Reiss and FatFace, as his remuneration was 30% below the average for FTSE 100 bosses. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Labour and Lib Dem MPs demand ‘shameful’ Palantir NHS contract be scrapped
Spy-tech company and founder Peter Thiel should ‘have their hands ripped off our NHS’, say MPs MPs have queued up to demand the government scraps its £330m NHS contract with the spy-tech company Palantir, calling it “dreadful” and “shameful” in a debate on Thursday, after which the government said it was “no fan” of the US company’s politics.Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs led the calls for Palantir, which also works for Donald Trump’s ICE immigration crackdown and the Israeli military, to be removed as a supplier to the NHS federated data platform (FDP), with one Labour backbencher, Samantha Niblett, questioning whether it could be “trusted as a custodian of the intimate health records of tens of millions of British citizens”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
LIV and let die: golf rebels count cost of Saudi cutbacks and other sports fear worst | Matt Hughes
Public Investment Fund withdraws support for rebel tour and other sports could be hit too with Newcastle United uncertainThe reverberations of an unscheduled meeting of LIV Golf executives in New York this week have been felt way beyond their swanky offices in Hudson Yards, on the west side of Manhattan.A slowdown in Saudi Arabia’s lavish spending on sport, which is conservatively estimated to have cost the kingdom more than $10bn in the past five years, had been expected, but its Public Investment Fund’s withdrawal of financial support for the rebel tour – which was first mooted to LIV execs on Monday – has caused shockwaves throughout the wider industry. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
It will take more than £600m a year to boost UK industrial competitiveness | Nils Pratley
Bics fix accepts nose-bleed energy bills are a structural problem but pretends they are only an issue for a narrow section of industryIt is “bold action” to boost UK competitiveness, claimed the government. Not everybody shared that assessment of the British industrial competitiveness scheme (Bics), the long-awaited plan to cut electricity bills for UK manufacturers by up to 25% – or, at least, to cut them for a subset of firms that are aligned with the eight chosen sectors of the “modern” industrial strategy.“Gas intensive industries in the UK have been shamefully ignored by the government in this announcement – it’s a total disgrace,” said Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB union, banging the drum for the likes of ceramics-makers and brickmakers that aren’t deemed modern enough for support. Employer bodies mostly did the polite thing of welcoming government assistance of any form before using phrases such as “drop in the ocean”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why the UK is preparing for food shortages due to Iran war
The BBC's Emma Simpson explains why fizzy drinks, salad and meat could be affected by the Gulf conflict.
bbc.com
No issues with UK fuel supply, says Reeves
The chancellor was speaking at the end of the International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington.
cnbc.com
Retail traders pile into Allbirds after odd AI pivot. History shows it won't end well
This surge of speculative buying reflects a broader return of animal spirits among small traders.
theguardian.com
What are the UK government’s plans to regulate social media for under-16s?
As Keir Starmer tells tech bosses to make their sites safer, ministers are weighing up what they can doStarmer tells social media firms: ‘Things can’t go on like this’Keir Starmer has told social media firms that “things can’t go on like this” in a meeting with tech bosses in Downing Street as pressure mounts for tougher restrictions on the industry.Ministers are considering imposing an under-16 age restriction on social media as well as other options to limit app use. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Social supermarket opens to cut food bills
The store, in Mablethorpe, buys surplus stock so it can keep prices low.
bbc.com
Cheaper Doritos and Lays helps PepsiCo win back struggling snackers
The snack giant cut some of its prices by up to 15% ahead of the Super Bowl in February.
cnbc.com
Anthropic rolls out Claude Opus 4.7, an AI model that is less risky than Mythos
Claude Mythos Preview is Anthropic's most powerful AI model that excels at identifying weaknesses and security flaws within software.
bbc.com
UK prepares for food shortages in worst case scenario as Iran war continues
The UK could face some food shortages by the summer under a worst case scenario drawn up by government officials.
bbc.com
DHL staff at Jaguar Land Rover vote to strike
Up to 300 DHL logistics workers based at Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull vote to strike indefinitely.
cnbc.com
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is preparing banks to collect citizenship data
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Trump administration expects banks to comply in collecting citizenship information from customers.
cnbc.com
Europe could run out of jet fuel in 6 weeks, IEA warns
The International Energy Agency warned Thursday that Europe is going to run out of jet fuel in as soon as six weeks.
cnbc.com
Anthropic unveils plans for major UK expansion after OpenAI announces first permanent London office
The move follows a U.K. campaign to court the U.S. company following its fallout with the Pentagon.
cnbc.com
World's biggest chocolate maker issues profit warning as cocoa prices collapse; shares plunge 17%
Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut on Thursday lowered its operating profit outlook, citing supply concerns and industry overcapacity.
cnbc.com
‘Guns vs. butter’: IMF flags tough trade-offs as governments ramp up defense spending
The International Monetary Fund has raised the alarm over a global “guns versus butter” trade-off as countries ramp up defense spending.
theguardian.com
‘A dollar or two increase is devastating’: US readers on toll of rising gas prices
Guardian readers describe how their lives have been upended by cost hikes stemming from Trump’s Iran warWith the US and Israel’s war on Iran now in its seventh week, with a fragile ceasefire in place since earlier this month, Americans are continuing to feel the effects at the pump as global fuel prices rise.For several readers who spoke to the Guardian, the impact has forced difficult trade-offs – from accessing essential medicines and groceries to facing the brink of homelessness amid an already rising cost of living. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘I don’t go out’: Vermont’s undocumented dairy workers live in fear after immigration raids
A tenfold increase in the number of immigration detentions has compelled many workers to barely leave the farms where they work‘They want to keep denying us our rights’: workers in Vermont’s $5.4bn dairy industry fight for basic labor protectionsLast spring, José Edilberto Molina-Aguilar was resting in his bedroom when a co-worker burst through the front door. Out his window, Molina-Aguilar, a 37-year-old dairy worker from Chiapas, Mexico, caught sight of the olive green uniforms of immigration enforcement officials who later claimed they had pursued a worker on to the farm property.A farm manager told Molina-Aguilar and five of his co-workers at Pleasant Valley Farms, Vermont’s largest dairy, in Berkshire, about three miles from the Canadian border, to come outside. Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK economy grew faster than expected in February ahead of Iran war
The economy saw its biggest monthly rise in more than two years just before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
cnbc.com
Iran war sparks 'fundamental energy transition' in Seoul toward renewables: Energy minister
Kim said South Korea will focus on wind and solar power to achieve its goal of reaching 100 gigawatts renewable energy capacity
bbc.com
Things can't go on like this with online safety, Starmer tells tech bosses
It comes as the government continues to consult on whether to ban under-16s from social media in the UK.
theguardian.com
Wildings in Newport, Wales: the grand department store that became an illicit cannabis farm
For decades, Wildings was the poshest shop in town. But since it closed down in 2019, the storied building has fallen into disrepair and been commandeered as a drug den and a skate park. What happened?I’m standing outside a lift in a department store in Newport, Wales, looking at the sign, wondering where to go. Stay on the ground floor for shoes, giftware and presents, ladies’ accessories and Estée Lauder? Or up to the first floor for furniture and ladies’ fashions – Annabelle, Tigi-Wear, Autonomy? It’s the second floor for cookshop and homeware. Lingerie is on three, plus Alfred’s coffee shop and tea room. Maybe I’ll go straight there for a cappuccino and a ponder …But nothing happens when I press the button. The panel is hanging from the wall by its wires and doesn’t look safe. I’d be nervous about stepping into this lift. Plus, it’s dark. I’m using the torch on my phone to read the sign. There’s no giftware on this floor, no presents, no cosmetics counter. Once, this floor would have smelled of perfume; now, it’s musty, cold and empty. Because, on 19 January 2019, after 144 years of trading, this department store, Wildings, closed its doors for ever. Continue reading...
bbc.com
More big energy users to get help as support plan expanded
A scheme to cut bills for firms that are heavy energy users is being extended to cover an additional 3,000 businesses.
cnbc.com
Hong Kong to announce tax break to lure global commodity traders
Hong Kong is rolling out a new tax break for commodity traders as it seeks to strengthen its position as a regional trading hub and revive shipping activity amid global supply disruptions.
theguardian.com
AI is destroying jobs – and the energy crisis could make that much worse | Larry Elliott
Every wave of new tech has come with a doomsday scenario. But governments just aren’t planning a human response on the scale required The transition to a world of artificial intelligence has given a whole new meaning to the concept that capitalism can only renew itself through creative destruction. This is the idea that clapped-out technologies have to be replaced by new ways of doing things, even though the process can be brutal.That has been the way of things for every new wave of inventions since the dawn of the industrial age in the mid-18th century, but with machines now displaying cognitive skills, able to both think and learn, the potential for economic disruption is all the greater.Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
bbc.com
China's economy grows faster than expected despite Iran war
The better-than-expected GDP data comes as Asian countries have been hit hard by the impact of the conflict.
theguardian.com
Ticket to ride? Fifa premium makes this the World Cup that actively hates you | Jonathan Liew
The $95 bus trip to Foxborough highlights a tournament unique in modern times – one that ultimately makes no secret of its disdain for the paying publicLike any journalist with an unerring nose for an offbeat feature, my interest was sharply piqued by this week’s announcement of the $95 bus ride. What magnificent accoutrements might conceivably justify the £70 fare for a half-hour journey from south Boston to Foxborough? An at-seat shiatsu? A pool deck? A five-course dining experience? A brief but moving Céline Dion set in the aisles? At the very least, I felt I owed it to my profession to find out for sure.Alas upon closer investigation, the Boston Stadium Express being launched for this summer’s World Cup appears to be an entirely regular bus journey on an entirely regular bus with entirely regular bus seats. Your non-refundable ticket – no child concessions – entitles you simply to be dropped off a 15-minute walk from the ground, and picked up again from the same place. There is, in short, no more complex rationale for the Boston organising committee to charge £70 than the fact that they can, and the World Cup only comes once, and if you don’t want to pay then some other rube will. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Big energy shock will push up prices, Bank boss tells BBC
Bank of England governor says the Iran war energy shock makes the next interest rate decision "very, very difficult".
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Small towns are powering e-commerce's fastest-growing market, dominated by Amazon, Walmart unit
Small towns are fueling India’s e‑commerce surge, with Amazon and Flipkart chasing new shoppers, faster delivery and rising aspirational demand.
bbc.com
Fake damage and imaginary watches - how AI images are being used in insurance scams
An insurer reports a 71% rise in fraudulent claims, driven partly by an increase in faked images.
theguardian.com
Private rents in Great Britain stop rising for first time since 2017
More landlords having to cut prices to secure tenants, Rightmove data showsAverage private rents have stopped rising in Great Britain after almost a decade of increases, as more landlords cut their prices to secure a tenant, data shows.The typical advertised private rent outside London for properties coming on to the market remained flat at £1,370 a calendar month in the first three months of 2026, according to the property website Rightmove. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The price of school prom is extortionate, says teen
A parent and ex-pupil says proms put pressure on children and adults alike.
bbc.com
Japan pledges $10bn to help Asian countries deal with oil crisis
The aid is roughly equivalent to a year's worth of crude oil imports by Asean countries.
theguardian.com
How South Korea plans to use the Iran crisis to spur a renewables revolution
Energy crisis unfolding in Middle East has added political urgency, and more funding, to transform South Korea’s solar industryIn Guyang-ri, a farming village of 70 households about 90 minutes south-east of Seoul, people gather for communal free lunches six days a week. The meals are funded by the village’s one-megawatt solar installation, which generates roughly 10m won ($6,800) in net profit each month.“Residents eat lunch together every day, so we see each other’s faces, talk together,” says Jeon Joo-young, the village chief. “Bonds and solidarity between residents become much stronger. Life becomes more enjoyable.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Allbirds shares soar 580% after pivot from shoes to AI
The company is selling off its shoe brand as it plans to shift to providing technology infrastructure.
theguardian.com
Geelong fire: major blaze breaks out at Australia's Viva oil refinery – video
Video shows an explosive fire at a Geelong oil refinery, which supplies half of Victoria’s fuel and 10% of Australia's. The blaze at Viva Energy's Corio facility in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, started just after 11pm WednesdayGeelong fire: fuel supply fears over out-of-control blaze at one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries Continue reading...
bbc.com
Back to books - Sweden's schools cutting back on digital learning
Swedish classrooms swap laptops for books, pens and paper, raising concerns from the tech sector.
bbc.com
Horse urine perfume: Why online bargains may be dangerous
Experts warn of hidden risk of counterfeits, while the government consults on stricter product safety rules.
bbc.com
Ticketmaster-owner Live Nation ran a monopoly and overcharged fans, jury finds
The lawsuit said the firm's practices had led to higher ticket prices and worse service for customers.
cnbc.com
Struggling shoe retailer Allbirds makes bizarre pivot to AI, adds $127 million in value
Allbirds announced a deal with American Exchange Group to sell its intellectual property and other assets for $39 million in March.
bbc.com
US war on Iran was a 'mistake', says Reeves
The chancellor's criticism follows a report that the conflict will hit the UK harder than other big economies.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the looming energy shock: ministers need to show they have a plan | Editorial
Keir Starmer can’t be blamed for the crisis in the Middle East, but he has to reassure people that he is prepared for its long-term consequencesPublic reassurance is one of the first duties of the government in difficult times. The early months of the Covid pandemic offer a case study in how to get this wrong. Boris Johnson was paralysed by indecision and denial of the severity of what was unfolding. Panic-buying cleared supermarket shelves of essential goods.Sir Keir Starmer is unlike Mr Johnson in temperament and work ethic, but he too is struggling to get ahead of events in a global crisis. It isn’t easy when the origin of turbulence is a superpower gone rogue. Donald Trump’s impulsive actions can’t be anticipated with epidemiological precision like a virus.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How the US-Israel war on Iran is affecting African economies
For some, the impact is already being felt but others remain in limbo over their energy security and are hostage to an unlikely de-escalation• Don’t get The Long Wave delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereIt remains a confusing situation, but the strait of Hormuz now appears to have been closed twice. Once by Iran, and then by the US, which this week announced a blockade of its own on the reduced number of ships using Iranian ports. Higher fuel and energy costs for ordinary people across the world are the headlines, but as the war on Iran enters its sixth week, shipping restrictions and strikes on energy facilities in Gulf countries are affecting some of the poorest and most vulnerable economies in the world in more profound ways.I spoke to Dr. Zainab Usman, senior research scholar at the Centre on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, about how the war and its blockades are affecting some African countries. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Field of Dreams stuff’: will Leeds finally get its trams after decades of promises?
Plans for return of such transport have been discussed for years, and not all local people believe that service will comeIt is 1993 and a young James Lewis is going to do work experience in Leeds city council’s highways department. His team, Leeds United FC, have only just relinquished the title of defending English champions. And the council is marching on with big ideas: putting the abandoned 1980s Metroline tram plan behind them, and forgetting the unloved 1991 concept of a Leeds Advanced Transit skytrain. The Supertram is the coming thing.“I remember these drawers and drawers, full of big paper plans,” says Lewis, 33 years on. Lewis is now leader of the city council, and it is all done online. Much of the city centre has been transformed, rebuilt and pedestrianised. Leeds United have never threatened to be champions again. But as Lewis stands outside Elland Road stadium, explaining how to cross the adjacent motorway, one thing has not changed. What Leeds really wants is to build a tram. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Expert tips on borrowing cash, from everyday spending to £20k loans
There are many options, from cards to buy now, pay later. We find out the best – and the effect on your credit scoreUntil recently, if you wanted to buy something you couldn’t afford upfront, you reached for a credit card or took out a loan. Now, when you get to the checkout, you are likely to be faced with other options, including buy now, pay later (BNPL).With so many ways to borrow, the true costs and complexities aren’t always clear. Which option will actually save you the most money in the long run? And how might each option affect your credit score? We spoke to financial experts to get some answers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
IMF says strait of Hormuz closure raises prospect of ‘major energy crisis’ – video
The International Monetary Fund is forecasting a range of possible global economic scenarios due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. IMF’s chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, says: ‘Our adverse scenario assumes further disruption, leading to higher energy prices and inflation expectations, and tighter financial conditions throughout the year … Our severe scenario assumes that energy supply disruptions extend into next year with greater macro instability’IMF warns ‘unprecedented’ energy crisis could trigger global recession as Australia prepares for Washington talks Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is the EU back in vogue? – podcast
Lisa O’Carroll reports on the ‘resetting’ of the relationship between the UK and the EUThis week, the Guardian reported that Labour is planning to bring in new legislation that will forge closer ties between the UK and the EU. Nearly 10 years on from the Brexit vote, the Guardian’s senior correspondent Lisa O’Carroll speaks to Helen Pidd about what a UK-EU reset would look like.Lisa and Helen also discuss the strength of the EU in the wake of Viktor Orbán’s defeat in the Hungary elections on Sunday. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Higher-income households benefited most from Help to Buy, thinktank finds
Analysis by IFS shows George Osborne’s mortgage schemes launched in 2013 had little effect on social mobilityHigher-income households were the biggest beneficiaries of George Osborne’s Help to Buy mortgage schemes, introduced in the 2010s, according to an analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) thinktank.Launched by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government in 2013, Help to Buy involved two separate schemes aimed at making home ownership more achievable in a period of rapid house price growth. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Bosses say AI boosts productivity – workers say they’re drowning in ‘workslop’
Workslop refers to AI-generated work that seems polished but is flawed and in need of heavy correctionsKen, a copywriter for a large, Miami-based cybersecurity firm, used to enjoy his job. But then the “workslop” started piling up.Workslop is an unintended consequence of the AI boom. It’s what happens when employees use AI to quickly generate work that seems polished – at least superficially – but is in fact so flawed or inaccurate that it needs to be heavily corrected, cleaned up or even completely redone after it’s passed on to colleagues. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Surrounded by windfarms but out of work: the reality of the green jobs boom on England’s east coast
The government hails the ‘green revolution’ as a solution to economic decline, but some young jobseekers say the rhetoric does not match their experienceOn paper, Jake Snell, 19, sounds like the perfect candidate for a role in the UK’s burgeoning green energy sector. He has high grades in maths and physics A-level, a distinction in BTec engineering and another distinction in an extended engineering diploma. He has also done work experience at an engineering company.He is from Lowestoft, a coastal town in Suffolk, outside Great Yarmouth. Both towns contain areas that fall within the most deprived 20% in England and are part of a wider pattern of coastal places with low employment opportunities. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Quantum computing: A tech race Europe could win?
With some promising computing companies in the field, could Europe be a leader in quantum tech?
bbc.com
The Dutch village at risk of being demolished
Moerdijk has been earmarked for removal, to make way for a vast electricity substation.
bbc.com
'Every drop of water counts': Fear for the future of Argentina's glaciers
A controversial law to ease protections for the glaciers has passed, opening the doors for mining.
bbc.com
TV for dogs booms but are they watching?
TV channels for dogs are multiplying but research is mixed on whether dogs are watching.
bbc.com
The construction boss who built a new life after three years in prison
Traci Quinn, who was jailed for a drugs offence, has transformed herself and set up a successful firm.
bbc.com
The US refinery now processing Venezuelan oil
Chevron is now importing 250,000 barrels of crude per day from Venezuela.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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